"The idea [of facelifting] was to make the next year's model different enough from the existing one that potential buyers would be pleased to be seen driving a car that was truly 'new.' And drivers of previous-years cars might be made to feel that their car was 'old,' and so be tempted to replace it with a 'new' one.
"That was what stylists referred to when they said that the first design on a multi-year production run was the most 'pure' -- the often-arbitrary facelifting degrading that purity.
"Another purpose for facelifting was to preview some styling features that were set to appear on the next complete redesign.
"So what often happened for three or four year production cycles would be as follows. The first model year would feature the supposedly 'pure' design. Intermediate years would find arbitrary detail changes. The final-year styling would include a few 'preview' details. An example is its Pontiac brand for model years 1955-1957."
Perhaps because General Motors was prosperous during the 1950s, those non-trivial Buick facelifts were justified for marketing reasons. Also, as my post indicated, planned future changes regarding grilles and front bumpers were considered while the 1954 design was still gestating and then implemented for the 1955 intermediate model year facelift.
Something similar, but less drastic, was the case for Oldsmobile during that same 1954-1956 production cycle.
Oldsmobile styling for the final year of the previous body production.
GM's new B- and C-bodies were, at their introduction, seen as futuristic, especially due to their wraparound (panaormic) windshields. To maintain brand identity, Olds stylists carried over important details from the 1953 design. These themes included the grille shape, bumper guards and side chrome trim.
Facelifted Oldsmobiles got an oval-shaped grille and somewhat split front bumpers. The side trim theme was replaced.
The final year of the body found a cleaned-up grille whose oval opening was surrounded by a massive bumper. Side trim was changed again.
Now for rear end changes and similarities.
Tail lights and backup lights are similar to those on '53 Oldsmobiles.
No intermediate-year change at the rear aside from the bumper.
Aft edge of the fender are slightly extended. Tail lights and backup lights are in the same positions, but reshaped a little.
My Grandad had a ‘56 identical to the one above. I really liked it. He traded in on a Volare. I was sick.
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